Ronnie O'Sullivan left Barry Hearn livid over 'unacceptable' and 'disrespectful' protest

Ronnie O'Sullivan's long-standing issues with authorities reached a boiling point when he clashed with boss Barry Hearn over bonus pay. More specifically, 'The Rocket' staged a controversial protest after turning down his chance at £10,000 for converting a 147 break.

While facing Barry Pinches during the first round of the 2016 Welsh Open, was on track for a maximum but chose to pot the pink after his penultimate red, ending on an agonising 146. His deliberate snub of the 147 prize caused a stir, but Hearn was far from amused, branding the act "unacceptable" and "disrespectful." And the Matchroom Sport chief expressed his disappointment on X (via ): "Most people don't understand 10k not meaning anything! Fact is we have a lot of 147 breaks and the prize money reflects that. Players have a duty to the fans to deliver the best standard and entertainment they can. Anything less than playing to your best ability is unacceptable and disrespectful to the paying public. This is not a crime but a shame."

Snooker legend O'Sullivan is on the cusp of surpassing China's Si Jiahui for a spot in the semi-finals of the . The Rocket - who is gunning for an unprecedented eighth world title - has yet to score a 147 break in the tournament thus far.

While a 147 break in the qualifying rounds still nets a £10,000 reward, players achieving this feat in the main draw can win (or share) a more significant £40,000 prize. Mark Allen remains the only player to have accomplished a maximum in the main portion of the 2025 competition so far.

Hearn Sr rejected calls to reinstate larger bonuses for 147 breaks after O'Sullivan chose not to pursue a maximum at the 2017 World Championship. With 147s becoming increasingly common, the supremo underlined his stance and expressed his frustration with those who are unhappy with the money on offer.

"The fact is that a 147, whether we like it or not - and we can be romantic about it - isn't as significant as it was in the old days, because we have so many of them," he said at the time. "But if a professional player who is there not just to win games but to play to the best of his ability for whatever reason either turns down or doesn't try for one, then I am disgusted with their lack of professionalism.

"If this game is only about money, if it's just about a few bob, in a world where the prize money has changed from £3.5million to £12m [across the year] and greedy people still can moan, frankly they should get out of the sport."

This season's total prize money has escalated even further, tipping at a whopping £19m thanks to an influx of new tournaments and swelling purses. O'Sullivan, however, has remained vocal over the years that the rewards on offer should be increased further.

The Rocket blasted into history with a record maximum break during the 1997 World Championship, converting in just five minutes and 20 seconds. That pocketed him a hefty £147,000 bonus and a high-break pot of £18,000, though that latter prize has since dipped to £15,000.

Despite reductions in some areas, players have the chance to snatch a £147,000 bonus for knocking in two maximums across the Triple Crown series, as well as the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters. However, this bounty can only be awarded up to three times in a season.